Gendarmerie doctor and cosmetic specialist detained with 70 kg of cocaine in Tartagal, Argentina

On 29 June 2026, Ivana Georgina Portal, a 39‑year‑old doctor serving in Argentina's National Gendarmerie, and 35‑year‑old cosmetologist Delia Yolanda Tame were stopped after their Renault Duster was fired upon on Ruta Nacional 34 near Tartagal, Salta. A bullet ruptured a concealed compartment in the vehicle’s trunk, revealing approximately 70 kg (some estimates 74 kg) of cocaine. The seizure linked the women to a large narcotics shipment allegedly destined for Buenos Aires and raised questions about a possible staged robbery, known locally as a "mejicaneada," aimed at hijacking the cargo.

In a related development, four police officers from the neighboring province of Tucumán have been placed under judicial investigation for being present at the scene without jurisdiction or a court order. Authorities have confiscated their service weapons, mobile phones, duty logs and a seized van to determine whether they participated in the incident or had any connection to the drug load. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on possible collusion between law‑enforcement personnel and the narcotics network.